The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable for left great toe sprain was improper and restored the 10 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2024. The issue of service connection for gout of the right great toe is remanded.
The deciding factor: The reduction in disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable for left great toe sprain was improper due to lack of evidence demonstrating improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work. The issue of service connection for gout of the right great toe requires additional development as the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate.
- Claimed conditions
- left great toe sprain, gout (right great toe)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26007355
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26007355.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's left arm fracture is granted a 10% rating. Service connection for TBI, headache disorder, left great toe sprain, and right wrist disorder are all granted. The appeal of service connection for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for her left great toe sprain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent treatment records.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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